British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would officially resign by Wednesday, July 13, 2016 as Home Minister Theresa May appeared set to take over the reins.
Cameron had earlier announced he would resign by October following the June 23 referendum, in which the country voted to pull out of the European Union.
But he said he would officially step down by Wednesday evening after May became the sole candidate left in the race to take over.
The only other remaining contender, Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom, quit the race on Monday.
[Previous story, published at 10:40 a.m. ET]
Theresa May is the only candidate left to become Britain’s next prime minister, after the other contender, Andrea Leadsom, quit the race on Monday.
It was not immediately clear whether the development meant that Home Secretary May would automatically become the nation’s next leader.
Leadsom said that she had the backing of far fewer MPs than May, and that if she had won the prime ministership, she would have struggled to unite the party.
“Theresa May carries over 60% of support from the party. She is ideally placed to implement Brexit and has promised to do so. I have concluded that the interests of our country are best served by the implementation of a strong leader.” Leadsom said.
“Brexit” refers to Britain’s decision to withdraw from the European Union, decided in a referendum on June 23.
“I am therefore withdrawing from the leadership election,” Leadsom said, adding that she gave May her “full support.”
The ruling Conservative Party had whittled down its candidates from five to two in rounds of votes among MPs, and the wider party of around 150,000 people was set to decide between the two.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced his resignation following the referendum, having failed to persuade the British people to remain in the union.
